The EL Simplicity Challenge: 30 Days of Simplicity

Last month we did our inaugural Simplicity Challenge on Instagram. This month, we’re sharing it on the blog so you can share it and complete it whenever you feel like you need a little bit of simplicity in your life. 1 simple step every day for 30 days. Physical clutter = mental clutter, so both of those areas are addressed throughout the challenge. Most tasks can be completed in 20 minutes. No skipping days!

Day 1 of 30: Walk your home with a trash bag. Be ruthless. This isn’t the donate bag. This is the “throw it away” bag. Donate bag comes later. Empty shampoo bottles. Papers. Receipts. Trash. Ready, go.

Day 2 of 30: Set a recurring alarm for every weekday. If you’re letting your kids wake you, set it for one hour earlier. The tone of your morning impacts the rest of your day.

Day 3 of 30: Do something with all those photos and videos on your phone. Print. Back-up. Store.

Day 4 of 30: Simplify your phone. Delete old contacts and unused apps. Consider moving time suckers to the back. Change that lock screen to something that makes you happy and your wallpaper to something simple.

Day 5 of 30: Put two things on your bedside table that make you happy. You should also have a lamp and a clock. That’s it. Move anything else.

Day 7 of 30: Restock anything that needs restocking in your bathroom. Cotton Balls. Q-tips. Toilet Paper. Shampoo. Toothpaste. If you don’t have extra, make a list. Take that notepad into the bathroom with you and take inventory.

Day 8 of 30: Start the habit of throwing a small load of laundry in every morning.

Day 9 of 30: Go put gas in your car today. While you’re there, clean out your car. Throw trash away. Make this a habit.

Day 10 of 30: Buy a few birthday cards. Keep them on hand for birthdays that pop up that you’re not prepared for.

Day 11 of 30: Put your number on the Do Not Call list. Call 1.888.382.1222.

Day 12 of 30: Walk your house with a donate bag. Schedule a pick-up or drop it off as soon as the bag is full. Walk your house with your keys if you have to.